Thursday, August 26, 2010

In preparation for the sprint triathlon on Saturday, SU and I headed for Lake Sammamish to do the swim-bike portion of the race. There's a lot of costume changes involved in these events and more often than not, spandex is involved. Why? I don't know, but there is.

Here's the break down:

1.) Change from work clothes into biking shorts in hot steamy car.
2.) Change from biking shorts into wet suit in dark damp Lake Sammamish bathroom. (Wet suit over biking shorts - this was not attractive or self-confidence boosting.)
3.) Changing from one wet suit into another wet suit while treading water in Lake Sammamish.
4.) Changing from second wet suit into dry clothes half-nekkid in Lake Sammamish park in the dark.

Ok, so it's technically only 3 times INTO spandex but getting out of a wet wet suit on land is a workout in itself. And hilarious. SU has warned me that trying on wet suits is like trying on tights but 100 times worse. Great, that's just what I need. And she was right, it was not fun, but at least wet suits smooth all the rolls and pudge out so you're just kinda squished all in there. Sexy.

The experience was not without it's character building moments. Less than a mile into the ride, it became exponentially more difficult to pedal. I realized I had a flat rear tire. Dammit. I've never 1.) had a flat tire, 2.) changed a flat tire. I've only watched someone do it, once. I figured my luck had run out after probably over 1000 miles on those tires. But between SU (who has only watched a video on how to change a tire) and I, we successfully changed my first flat tire! Three fist pumps for that! Lucky for us it was on the sidewalk along E. Lake Sammamish Parkway with traffic whizzing by and no one to stop, but whatevs. Talk about feeling empowered. With every major flat-tire-changing-milestone (remove tire, release tire from frame, remove tube, insert new tube, reattach tire, reattached back wheel to chain, pump up tire) it was like a tiny victory. When SU asked me what I'd do if we both weren't there to fix it, I said, "Cry. You?" "Probably just walk my bike back," she replied. Well, isn't that rational?

I feel so much better about Saturday's race. Not sure what the outfit changes will be or how this is all going to play out but I know, without a doubt, it will be a site to behold.

Starts at 7:00 am, Saturday, at Lake Sammamish. Should take about 2-ish hours, heavy on the "ish". Come on out and behold of the sight of 3 hot chicks in wet suits. I'll be number 216 (?) in the hot pink swim cap.